Tent



March 3, 1970 5; HULlN 3,498305 TENT Filed Feb. 7, 1968 INVENTOR.

BY WW4 14 TOPNE'YS United States Patent 3,498,305 TENT Bonnie R. Hulin, 6032 NW. 55th St., Oklahoma City, Okla. 73122 Filed Feb. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 703,687 Int. Cl. A45f N06 US. Cl. 13s 1 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tent including a fabric top panel secured to a generally cylindrical side wall panel with the side wall panel being retained in cylindrical configuration by a pair of rigid, vertically spaced rings, and with the top panel of the tent being suspended from an overhead supporting member. The lowermost of the two rigid rings is anchored to the earth, and both of the rigid rings are detachable from the fabric portion of the tent so that the entire structure may be compactly stored in a small space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to tents, and more particularly, to suspended tents which are suspended from a higher located rigid member.

Brief description of the prior art A number of types of tents have heretofore been proposed which can be very quickly erected without the use of tent poles or similar ground-based supporting structure by suspending the tent from a limb or a portion of an automobile. Tents of this type have been particularly well suited for use as portable bath houses or portable latrines which can be set up very expeditiously, and quickly can be taken down and folded in a compact easily transported status.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a portable, suspension type tent which can be very easily erected, and which, when taken down, can be disassembled into several parts which can be easily stored in a very small volume so that the stored tent occupies very little space. Broadly described, the tent of the invention comprises a generally cylindrical side wall panel of flexible material having a top panel of flexible material secured to the upper portion thereof. Means for suspending the tent from a rigid overhead structure of some type is secured to the top panel. A first rigid ring which has an outer periphery dimensioned to mate with the cylindrical inner periphery of the side panel is detachably secured to the side panel adjacent its line of connection to the top panel. A second rigid ring is provided and is detachably secured to the inside of the side wall panel at a location which is spaced vertically downwardly from the first rigid ring, Finally, means is provided for anchoring the second rigid ring to the ground. An important feature of the tent of the invention is the quickness and ease with which it may be erect ed, or taken down, disassembled and compactly stored in a space of small volume. This ease of erection and disassembly is made possible by the cooperation between the two rigid rings employed, in conjunction with the flexible material portions of the tent i.e. the side wall panel and the top panel. The rigid rings are secured to the flexible material portion of the tent by quick release webs or straps and ties which secure the rings in certain specific locations on the interior of the tent. Anchor rods "ice which are easily extended into the ground, and which are configured for quick engagement with the lower of the two rigid rings are employed to retain the tent in a fixed position between the point of anchorage to the ground and the point of suspension from the overhead structure.

From the foregoing general description of the invenion it will be perceived that the invention achieves, as a major and important objective, the provision of a portable, quickly erected, highly useful tent which can be compactly stored when not in use.

An additional objective of the invention is to provide a tent which can be manufactured very inexpensively, and which can be transported easily and set up in any location where some means of suspending the tent from an overhead structure is available.

In addition to the described objects and advantages, additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the tent of the invention as the tent appears when erected.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tent of the invention when erected.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line--33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIG. 1, the tent of the invention includes a generally cylindrical side wall panel 10 which is constructed of a flexible material, and is secured at its upper edge to a top panel 12, also made of a flexible material, and formed in a conical configuration in the embodiment of the invention illustrated. The top panel 12 has secured on the top surface thereof and in the center of the panel, a pair of short strips of webbing 14- !which cross at their centers and extend over a rigid ring 16. The ring 16 constitutes a means for suspending the tent in the illustrated vertical position as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

A suitable flexible suspension member, such as the rope 18, is connected to the ring 16 and is extended to, and supported by, a rigid overhead structure, such as the limb 20 illustrated in FIGURE 1. Substantially any type of stout, elevated supporting structure can be employed to suspend the tent.

On the lower or inner surface of the top panel 12, this panel has secured thereto a pair of strips of webbing 22 which cross at right angles and which each have a pair of free end portions 22a and 22b extending downwardly inside the tent from the line of securement or connection between the side panel 10 and the top panel 12. The free ends 22a and 22b of the webs 22 are utilized in the assembly of the tent to secure a first relatively rigid annular member or ring 26 at the upper end of the side panel 10 adjacent its line of securement to the top panel 12. Securement of the first rigid ring 26 in this position is effected by extending the free ends 22a and 22b of the webbing strips 22 around this ring, and passing these free ends back through buckles 28. The buckles 28 are secured in a fixed location inwardly from the peripheral edge of the top panel 12 by passing a bight portion of the buckles 28 between the respective webbing strips 22 and the inside surface of the top panel. This arrangement is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. It will be noted that when the webbing strips 22 are secured around the first rigid ring 26 in the manner illustrated, they provide a support for the top panel 12, and also retain the ring in a position such that it gives shape and support to the side panel 10. It will also be apparent in referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 that the first rigid ring 26 can be quickly and easily secured in its proper position by the use of the webbing strips 22. Finally, the location of the webbing strips 22 with respect to the short strips of webhing 14 carried on the upper surface of the top panel 12 is such that the strips 22 reinforce, and provide additional anchorage for, the webbing strips 14.

Adjacent the lower portion of the side wall panel 10, a second rigid ring 30 is provided, and has a diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical side wall panel 10. The second rigid ring 30 is retained in the illustrated position spaced upwardly a short distance from the lower edge of the side panel by means of a plurality of flexible ties 32 which are circumferentially spaced from each other around the inside of the flexible side panel 10. The flexible ties 32 are arranged on the side panel 10 so that the ring 30 is supported coaxially in the side panel. For the purpose of anchoring the tent to the ground, a plurality of anchor rods 34 are provided which are shaped generally like the figure 7, and which thus include a hook portion 34a at the upper end thereof. The anchor rods are hooked over the ring 30 and are pushed into the ground so as to anchor the tent.

As a final element of the tent structure, an elongated closure element, such as a zipper 36, extends parallel to the vertical axis of the cylindrical side panel 10, and is provided to permit the side panel to be opened or closed as desired. The zipper 36 preferably extends to a point which is at least as low on the side panel 10 as the location of the second rigid ring 30, and opens by zipping upwardly so that the opening is first formed at the bottom of the tent and is then extended upwardly.

In using the tent, it is initially stored by folding the flexible side panel 10 and top panel 12 compactly in a small space. The rigid rings 26 and 30 may be stored in any convenient location, and may be made in segmented form to permit them to occupy a smaller space upon storage. The anchor rods 34 can be stored inside the folded side panel-top panel structure, or can be stored separately.

When it is desired to erect the tent on a chosen site, the side panel 10 and top panel 12 are first unfolded, and the first or upper rigid ring 26 is located adjacent the top panel 12 and secured in position by passing the free ends 22a and 22b of the webbing strips 22 around the ring 26 and through the buckles 28. The tent may then be suspended by securing a rope 18 or other flexible member to the suspension ring 16, and extending this rope over a limb, or over a portion of a camper or vehicle which is sufficiently high to permit the tent to be suspended therefrom. The final operations involved in erecting the tent include, first, passing the second rigid ring 30 through the opening formed by manipulation of the zipper 36 and then turning this ring until it bears against the side panel 10 around its circumference. The ring 30 is then lowered to the position depicted in FIG- URE 4, and is secured in this position by the use of the flexible ties 32. When the ring 30 is thus secured, the tent is anchored by driving the anchor rods 34 into the ground in a position to engage the ring 30 with the hookshaped upper end portions 3412. With this arrangement, the tent is firmly held in place at both its upper and lower ends, and will withstand substantial winds. A weathertight enclosure is provided which can be rc-located relatively easily without disassembly of the tent, other than to pull the anchor rods 34 from the soil, and locating a new convenient point of overhead support for suspending the tent.

When it is desired to strike the tent preparatory to leaving a campsite, the procedure described for erecting the tent is reversed. Thus, the lower rigid ring 30 is first released by extracting the anchor rods 34 from the ground and untying the flexible ties 32. The tent can then be lowered from its point of suspension by releasing the rope 18, and the free ends 22a and 22b of the webbing strips 22 can be disconnected from the buckles 28 and disengaged from the upper ring 26. Actually, this step can frequently be performed more easily while the tent remains suspended, and this course of disassembly may be followed if desired. The flexible side panel 10 and top panel 12 of the tent are then folded into a compact configuration, and the rigid rings 26 and 30 and anchor rods 34 are stored for transport.

Although the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings provide an example of one embodiment of the invention and the manner in which it may be constructed, it is to be understood that various changes and innovations in the depicted and described structure can be effected without departure from the basic principles of the invention. All changes of this type which continue to rely upon the basic principles of the invention are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention except as the same may be necessarily limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible tent comprising:

a pyramidally shaped top panel of flexible material having a circular lower edge and an upwardly pointing apex;

a side panel of flexible material having an endless upper edge secured to the circular lower edge of said top panel;

a plurality of elongated webbing strips secured to the downwardly facing side of said top panel, each of said webbing strips extending from a first point on the lower edge of said top panel, across'the apex of said top panel and to a second point on said lower edge of said top panel on the opposite side of said lower edge from said first point, said webbing strips crossing each other at said apex and each of said webbing strips having a pair of free end portions at opposite ends thereof;

engaging means secured to the downwardly facing side of said top panel and detachably engaging the free ends of said webbing strips to form bights in each webbing strip adjacent the lower edge of the top panel; a

a first rigid ring having an outer periphery configured and dimensioned to mate with the inner periphery of said side wall panel adjacent the upper edge of the side wall panel, said first rigid ring extending through the several bights formed by said webbing strips and lending rigid support to the side wall panel of the tent;

additional webbing strips secured to the upwardly facing surface of said top panel directly over some of said first mentioned webbing strips, each of said additional webbing strips being secured through said top panel to one of said first mentioned webbing strips and extending across the apex of said top panel;

a suspension ring passed under said additional webbing strips at the apex of said top panel for suspending said tent;

a second rigid ring having an outer periphery configured and dimensioned to mate with the inner periphery of the lower portion of said side wall panel;

a plurality of spaced, flexible ties on the interior of said side wall panel tied around, and detachably retaining, said second rigid ring in a horizontal position in contact with the inner periphery of the lower portion of said side wall panel;

a plurality of anchor rods each having a hook-shaped portion at one end for detachably engaging said sec- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1900 Conrad 1358 XR 5/1947 Miner 135-1 6 3/1953 Geerling 135-8 XR 7/1965 Taylor et a1. 135-8 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1928 Great Britain.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

